Structure, magnetic and dielectric properties in nano-crystalline YbCoMnO
Graphical abstract
Introduction
Materials which simultaneously shows ferroelectricity and magnetism are termed as multiferroic materials [1], [2]. Strong coupling of electric and magnetic properties can be utilized for vast industrial applications, for instance, storage devices, sensors, tunable microwave filters, etc. [3], [4], [5], [6]. Recently, several double perovskite materials have exhibited coupled magnetic and electric phenomenon. Among them, a new double perovskite BaFeMnO have shown co-existence of electric and magnetic hysteresis and considered as a promising candidate for spintronic applications [7]. The tunable magneto-electric effect has been observed in YMnCrO which have further intensified the quest of multiferroic materials in double perovskites [8]. Interestingly, novel high-temperature multiferroicity have been observed in a 3-5 based Bi(Ni/Mn)ReO compound [9]. Despite having an interesting physics and exotic phenomenon with promising potential for industrial applications these materials have not been well studied.
Among the vast class of compounds 3 based RCoMnO (where R rare earth elements) has received much attention of researchers due to their exotic properties such as E type ferromagnetic ordering, spin–phonon coupling, multiferroicity, magnetoelectricity, etc. In these double perovskites the spin magnetic moment of Co and Mn interact via dominant super-exchange interaction and give rise to ferromagnetic ordering in these materials. However, in addition to this magnetic phase transition, the rare-earth ions also interact at low temperatures and in most cases align themselves in opposite direction to the Co/Mn sublattice and thus results in an antiferromagnetically ordered state. It is worth to mention some previous findings, for instance, LuCoMnO shows -type magnetic ordering around 50 K with an anomaly in dielectric constant at same temperature which suggests some kind of magneto-electric interplay in this material [10]. Further, this material shows pyroelectric properties and has shown negative magnetocapacitance [11]. In another case, ErCoMnO shows a ferromagnetic ordering of Co and Mn cations around 67 K with a low temperature ferrimagnetic ordering around 10 K activated by Er ions [12]. The pyroelectric and polarization properties of YCoMnO have been studied and confirms that no intrinsic magnetoelectric multiferroicity exists [13]. Magnetization and neutron study of single crystalline YbCoMnO shows -type ferromagnetic ordering and also shows negative magnetocapacitance [10]. Strong magnetic anisotropy and metamagnetic transition have been observed in a self flux-grown single crystal of YbCoMnO. In this study, we aim to investigate the magnetic and dielectric properties of nano-crystalline YbCoMnO and compare the results with bulk study to identify the effect of reduced dimensions.
In the present study, we report structural, magnetic, dielectric and transport properties of nano-crystalline YbCoMnO. The structural analysis shows the sample is in single phase and adopts the monoclinic crystal structure with P2/n space group. Magnetization study reveals that the YbCoMnO is a ferromagnetic material that undergoes PM–FM phase transition around 56 K. The material also shows antiferromagnetic ordering at low temperature. Raman study shows spin–phonon coupling is present in this material. Dielectric measurement shows a strong dispersion in dielectric constant and tangent loss shows a relaxation phenomenon. The impedance spectroscopy shows that YbCoMnO does not follow Debye’s model. The Nyquist plot analysis shows non-Debye’s behavior YbCoMnO. AC conductivity shows strong frequency dependency at the higher frequency limit. The conductivity analysis shows that the conduction mechanism involves the quantum mechanical tunneling phenomenon.
Section snippets
Experimental details
Sol–gel method has been employed to synthesize the nano-crystalline YbCoMnO. Starting ingredients with high purity (99.9%) from Alpha Aesar were used. First, we have prepared solutions of each compound in separate beakers. We have dissolved Mn(CHCO).4HO, Co(NO).6HO and nitric acid in water with continuous stirring till the solution becomes clear. However, YbO is insoluble in water to make a clear solution we have added nitric acid drop by drop to the beaker containing YbO and water
Structural study
Fig.1a shows the X-ray diffraction pattern along with Rietveld refinement for nano-crystalline YbCoMnO double perovskite. In this figure the black open circles are experimental data, the bold red solid line is the calculated model, the blue weak line is the difference in experimental and calculated pattern. The fitting parameter goodness of fit = 1.93 which is quite reasonable. Further, from fitting we obtained R/R ratio 1.38 which is reasonably good and acceptable [14], [15], [16].
Conclusion
YbCoMnO nano-crystalline was successfully synthesis by sol–gel method. In the present study, we report structural, magnetic, dielectric and transport properties of nano-crystalline YbCoMnO. The structural analysis shows that the sample is in single phase and adopt monoclinic crystal structure with P2/n space group. Magnetization study reveals that the YbCoMnO is a ferromagnetic material that undergoes PM–FM phase transition around 56 K. The material also shows
Declaration of Competing Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Acknowledgments
We acknowledge MNIT Jaipur, India for XPS data and AIRF (JNU) for magnetic measurement facilities. We acknowledge UGC-DAE-Consortium Indore and Dr. V.G. Sathe for Raman data. We also acknowledge Dr. A.K. Pramanik for dielectric measurement and UPEA-II, India funding for LCR meter. Author Ilyas Noor Bhatti acknowledges University Grants Commission, India for financial support.
Declaration of ethical responsibility
Our submission is original and has not been or is not being submitted to the peer review process to any other
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2020, Solid State SciencesCitation Excerpt :The XPS spectra of these elements are fitted with XPS PEAKFIT 4.1. Fig. 2a shows the core level spectrum of Co 2p 3/2 at 796.01 eV corresponding to +2 charge state which is in agreement with reported literature [39–43]. Besides the strong Co 2p peak a small less intense satellite peak is also been observed close to Co 2p peaks (see figure).